Chapter 64
Kim woke with a jolt from the frigid water that was thrown in her face by her captors. Her head hurt, and she touched the side of her face and found it sore and swollen.
"Thank you for joining us again, Miss Lee. I must apologize for my…associate; he can be very crude at times. With your help…or should I say from your purse, we were able to ascertain the location of Mr. Harris's home. Some of my other associates are checking it out as we speak. I do hope that Mr. Choi is there with him; it will make things go a little quicker for us. Now, that brings us to you. You are going to be my insurance policy. I'm hoping that it will guarantee Mr. Harris's full cooperation. I just hope he's very fond of you. Otherwise, you're of no use to me at all.
And if that's the case, I just might let my not-so-pleasant-looking associate have his way with you until he gets bored."
Mr. Smith could see the stark reality in her eyes and was incredibly pleased, but he still wanted to leave her with a bit of hope.
“Now, if all goes well tonight, I can assure you that once we have what we want, we will leave you in peace without further harm to anyone.” Mr. Smith said with a grin.
Kim had no delusions that these men would just leave them once they had what they wanted. She knew what fate awaited them. She was fully aware of what happened to Addison. Somehow, she was going to help Shawn kill these men, although she didn’t have a clue as to how. She wasn’t going down without a fight.
Mr. Smith’s cell phone rang, and he listened for a moment, and a broad smile crossed his face. Using a spotting scope, the men he had sent to monitor the home had just seen the man they were looking for on his deck with a drink in his hand.
*****
Jesse woke Ken when they were within a mile of Bangla Road. No vehicle traffic was allowed on the road after dark, and Chuah luckily found a place to park with security. Jesse and Ken were dressed in dark colors. Both wore black cargo pants and military hiking shoes. Jesse wore a dark green short-sleeved casual shirt, while Ken’s was medium gray. They had no idea how long it would take to find Shawn, and they didn’t want to stick out in a crowd wearing camo. Soon, all three men started to walk down the crowded streets. The night air was warm and pungent with a mixture of incense, spices, hacker food stands, and other aromas that stimulated and baffled the senses. The city’s seedy underbelly came alive at night like a devouring beast looking to feast on its unsuspecting prey.
As the men walked toward the Mongoose Club, Jesse said to Ken, “Sodom and Gomorrah has nothing on this place.”
Ken just grinned from ear to ear and took it all in. For him, it was paradise.
As they walked, Chuah suggested that they hold onto their wallets because of the many pickpockets that preyed on the intoxicated and unsuspecting tourists. The three men were soon inundated by young men and women handing out luring advertising sheets for various clubs in the area. Jesse noted the people of every age and nationality walking the streets and taking in the madness. They were like sheep passing by the lairs of hungry wolves. There was always safety in numbers, but as in nature, the weak were always singled out and eagerly devoured.
Fifteen minutes later, they entered the busy hot spot after paying a cover charge. Jesse was immediately impressed by the size and scope of the nightclub. On the large stage, a cabaret show was in progress that had everyone captivated. In a dazzling display of stage sets, fantastic music, and dance, beautiful women and handsome men performed magical dance routines in extravagant, colorful costumes from worldwide cultures in classical dance and song. In another section of the club, separate from the stage, Jesse saw coyote girls pole dancing on the raised platforms on the main floor and on the balcony. He paid little attention to them, but Ken seemed to be mesmerized. He was bobbing his head to the music that blared at decibels that rattled Jesse’s brain, and he wondered how anyone could enjoy it. They weaved through the crowd to one of the three bars and luckily found two empty stools that had just been vacated. Jesse and Chuah sat while Ken stood. Chuah leaned over to talk to Jesse over the music.
“It’s been quite a while since I’ve been in here. I see that they have made some changes. This place is great.”
Jesse looked around and spotted photographs behind the bar of famous people from around the world posing with some cabaret dancers. Some celebrities were easy to name, but one stood out above the rest. It was Charlie Sheen posing between two of the beautiful dancers. As he looked at the photo closer, something else caught his eye: a man standing next to one of the dancers. He had on a New York Yankees baseball cap and a full beard, but Jesse recognized the face almost immediately and the scar below his right eye. He had his arm around an older, very attractive Asian woman who was smiling at him.
When the bartender arrived to take their drink requests, Jesse asked the man, “Who’s the man and woman in the photo with Charlie Sheen and the two dancers?”
The bartender looked at the photo. “That’s the owner of the club and the club manager. What can I get for you, sir?”
“What’s the owner’s name?” Jesse asked.
The young man shrugged his shoulders and said, “Everyone just calls him Mr. Shawn.”
Is he here now?” Jesse asked. “I’d like to speak with him.”
“No, I haven’t seen him for a few days.”
Jesse leaned closer to the handsome bartender and said, “Do you know how I can contact him then? I’m sure he has a cell phone.”
“I’m sorry, sir, I’m not allowed to give out that information.”
“Then I’d like to talk with the manager.”
“I’m afraid that Miss Lee isn’t here tonight either. Why is something wrong with the service?”
“No, everything is fine. But it’s very urgent that I speak with whoever is running the club tonight.”
The bartender nodded and picked up his radio behind the bar. A few minutes later, a middle-aged woman of Chinese descent named Susan Wong approached Jesse and asked how she could assist him. Jesse introduced himself, and then he asked if they could talk somewhere in private. Susan was reluctant, but sensing her apprehension, Jesse informed her that he was an old Army friend and that it was urgent that he contact Shawn because he might be in danger. Without any further hesitation, she instructed Jesse to follow her. Ken and Chuah stayed at the bar while Jesse followed the woman through a door around the corner from the bar. Susan led him to Kim’s office. She unlocked the door, and the two stepped in after turning on the lights. Susan rounded Kim’s desk to sit down.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“You stirred my curiosity, Mr. Taylor. And just how is the owner of the club in danger?”
Jesse was about to speak when Susan covered her mouth and gasped, “Oh my god.”
“What’s wrong?”
Susan pointed at the dried blood on the floor and on the armrest of the chair.
Jesse was at her side instantly and looked at the blood drops. He took a pencil off the desk and examined the blood using the eraser end. The blood was still somewhat moist in the center of the largest drop and hard on the outside edges.
“Is this the owner’s office?” Jesse asked the woman, although he was sure it wasn’t from the looks of the decor.
“No, it belongs to Kim Lee, the club manager. She asked me to fill in for her for a few days.”
Jesse was curious about the photo behind the bar and asked, “Does Shawn have a personal relationship with Miss Lee besides being his manager?”
Susan nodded and said with a shaky voice, “They have lived together ever since I can remember.”
“Did she say why she was leaving? What was her mood when you talked with her?” Jesse asked.
“She didn’t say why she was taking time off, although she did appear to be a little nervous, and that’s not like her.”
“Has Mr. Shawn ever used this office?”
Susan shook her head.
“When was the last time you spoke with Miss Lee?”
The woman looked at her wristwatch and said, “Not quite an hour ago.”
Jesse pulled out a photo and handed it to her.
“Have you seen this man in the club recently?”
Susan studied the photo for a moment before answering.
“Yes, he was in the club not long ago. I saw him talking to one of our hostesses. I remember him because he was quite unpleasant looking, and he looked very mean.”
“Susan, I’m afraid we don’t have much time. I need the cell number or landline for Shawn and Miss Lee. I need to talk with them immediately.”
Without hesitation, Susan pulled out her cell phone. She was told never to give out any personal information about any employee, but after seeing the bloodstained floor and armrest, she decided to break that rule. Susan’s hand shook a bit as she pulled up the contact information. She wasn’t sure if Mr. Shawn had a landline; all she had was his cell number. Jesse entered the numbers into his cell phone and immediately called Shawn. His phone rang eight times before it went to his voicemail without a greeting. When the beep sounded, Jesse was temporarily at a loss for words. After all the years that had passed, he didn’t know what to say to the man who had saved his life.
As the seconds ticked by, he finally said, “Shawn, this is Jesse Taylor. I’m at your club in Phuket. Call me as soon as you get this message.”
Jesse left his cell number, knowing that his cell wouldn’t display his number. Next he tried Kim’s cell and got her voicemail also. Not knowing who had her cell phone, he simply gave his name and number and asked her to call as soon as possible. Jesse put his phone away and looked at Susan.
“How far is it to Shawn’s house?”
“Not far, but with the traffic and winding roads, it will take some time to get there.”
“Do you have his exact address?”
Yes, I do. I’ll write it down and give you directions to his home.”
Thank you for all your help, Susan, but the directions won’t be necessary. All I need is his address.”
As soon as Jesse got the address, he called his headquarters in Reston. He gave them the address and requested a live satellite image link to his iPad. Before he set out on his mission, he asked General Jackson to request a surveillance satellite be assigned over Phuket, and his request was quickly approved by the National Reconnaissance Office, which normally cooperates with all the U.S. spy agencies.
Jesse thanked Susan again, and soon, all three men were on the street heading for Chuah’s SUV. On the way, Jesse filled his companions in on the conversation he had with Susan Wong, the blood that they found in Kim’s office, and the possibility of her kidnapping.
They arrived at the SUV five minutes later, and Jesse pulled out his iPod and pulled up the Google Maps link. He showed Chuah the location and asked, “We need to get here ASAP!”
Chuah looked at the screen and said, “No problem, just hang on.”
Before he started the vehicle, Chuah asked, “If you’re expecting trouble, I can have two men meet up with us before we get there?”
“Have they ever been in a firefight before?” Jesse asked.
Chuah looked a little embarrassed. “No sir, they are more of the intel-gathering assets.”
“How about you, Chuah?” Ken asked.
“I’ve been in a few scraps,” Chuah lied.
“Where are these men at now?” Jesse asked.
Without answering, Chuah took out his cell phone and made a call. Thirty seconds later, he said, “They’re watching Tim Choi’s home. They are a few kilometers further out than we are. What do you want me to tell them?”
Jesse thought about it briefly, then looked at Ken, who said, “Your call.”
“Tell them to stay where they are for now. Let’s get moving; we’ve wasted enough time already.”
Chuah fired up the vehicle and started to weave through the heavy night traffic while Ken began to pull out the body armor and weapons from the cargo hold. Chuah knew how to get to the peninsula. Over the years, he had visited the small, secluded Pansea Beach a few times with friends. He also knew the area had exclusive beach resorts and luxury homes.
Chuah looked at Jesse and said. “Your man must have a lot of money. That’s a very high-rent neighborhood.”
Jesse ignored him, and after connecting to the military version of Google Earth, which had a much higher resolution, he was soon looking down at Shawn’s home in daylight. Jesse had Susan describe the house to him before he left the club. He wanted to make sure the property they were about to descend on was indeed owned by his old friend, and from the description she gave him, he was looking at the correct property. He could see that the house was quite large. It appears to be a multi-level job with three swimming pools and at least four large decks.
Jesse got a soft beep and noticed that the numbers in the right-hand corner of his iPad started blinking from white to red as the countdown to when the spy satellite would reach the longitude and latitude of Shawn’s home. When the counter hit zero, his screen lit up, and he was looking down on Shawn’s home in real-time. Through the thermal imaging lens, he could see three people glowing in different shades of red, orange, and yellow hews. One was out on one of the decks, and two appeared to be sitting in a large room. Jesse moved his finger across the screen and scanned the security gate. He could see a man sitting in the guard shack, and he relaxed just a bit. Another soft beep and the countdown to when the Spysat would lose its connection began to read out. He would not have another satellite over Shawn’s home for another twenty minutes. It appeared that Shawn was safe for the moment. But that was about to change.
“How long will it take to reach our target?” Jesse asked Chuah,
“It’s roughly twenty kilometers, but it’s through crowded winding roads. We are now in Pa Tong, and the target property is on a peninsula just west of Phuket. Given the roads and traffic, my best guess is thirty to forty minutes.”
“I want you to make it in twenty-five, but don’t hit anything or run over anyone,” Jesse said very seriously.
Chuah looked at Jesse and said, “I’ll try my best, sir.”
Fifteen minutes later, they had covered less than half the distance, and Jesse was getting impatient. He didn’t blame Chuah; the man was amazing in the way he weaved through the congested traffic without killing anyone or leaving half the paint from his SUV on other cars, motorbikes, and Tuk-Tuks. Jesse heard the soft beep on his iPad again. He watched as the timer counted down to zero again. Shawn’s home came into view again. The person on the deck had joined the other two figures in the house. The intensity of the colors in the home was much more subdued and harder to see. Jesse decided to pan out and look at the perimeter of the house. He started with the security guard by the gate. That’s when he saw them.... “Shit, we have two bogies moving along the fence and closing in on the guard at the security gate, and I don’t think they’re coming for a social visit.”